A recent CDC report reveals that ADHD diagnoses among adults in the United States have surged, affecting 15.5 million people in 2023. This represents approximately 6% of the adult population. Many diagnoses occurred later in life, with challenges in accessing medication highlighted. Further details are available in the original CDC report.
Newstro Quick Facts
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report states that approximately 15.5 million adults in the US had an ADHD diagnosis in 2023, equating to 6% of the adult population. Around half of these diagnoses occurred in adulthood, indicating that many individuals are not diagnosed until later in life.
- The CDC gathered this data through surveys conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics Rapid Surveys System between October and November 2023. The report highlights disparities, with younger adults and non-Hispanic Whites more likely to receive diagnoses compared to other demographics.
- While medications like stimulants are commonly prescribed, over 71% of adults with ADHD reported difficulty in accessing these prescriptions. Telehealth has become a key avenue for receiving treatment, but the CDC notes potential limitations with self-reported diagnoses and the possibility of nonresponse bias in the survey data.
